- Visions (convention)
Infobox Convention
name = Visions
caption =
status = Inactive
genre =Doctor Who ,science fiction television
venue =
location =Rosemont, Illinois
country = United States
first = 1990
last = 1998
organizer = Her Majesty's Entertainment
filing =
attendance = "ca." 1,100-2,000 each year
website =Visions was an annual
science fiction convention held from 1990 to 1998 inRosemont, Illinois onThanksgiving weekend. The convention was held at theHyatt Regency O'Hare except for the 1992 event which was held at theRamada O'Hare. [Ramada O'Hare, 6600 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont, IL. In 2006 the building was sold toHoliday Inn and partially demolished.] The convention was originally called Visions but was renamed HME Visions in 1998. [The 1998 program booklet billed the convention as "Her Majesty's Entertainment Presents HME Visions '98, the Unconventional Television Convention."]The convention was founded by retired fireman,Citation | title = Convention's a Who's Who of That British TV Sci-Fi Favorite | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | pages = Weekend section, p. 76 | date =
November 29 ,1996 ] electrical contractor, and longtime Doctor Who fanRobert H. McLaughlin III ofHoffman Estates, Illinois .Citation | title = Sci-Fi Fans Meet Some Favorites | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | pages = Tempo section, p. 2 | date =December 7 ,1997 ] He organized the 1990 "Doctor Who " convention to raise money forLambs Farm . The convention was run by McLaughlin with a committee of about 20Citation | title = Stars Help Make Sci-Fi Charity Auction Shine | newspaper = Daily Herald (Arlington Heights) | pages = p. 1 | date =December 5 ,1993 ] plus fan volunteers ("gophers") recruited at each event.Various program booklets.]Over time the convention expanded from a "Doctor Who" convention into a celebration of British TV shows. While the main focus of each convention was "Doctor Who", "Visions" often invited actors from "
Blakes 7 ", "Red Dwarf " and "Robin of Sherwood ". "Visions '93" celebrated the 30th anniversary ofDoctor Who and the 15th anniversary of "Blakes 7"."Visions '93" program booklet.]Convention events
Panels
The main attraction of each convention was the hour-long question and answer sessions with the celebrities. There were also smaller gatherings run by fans called fan panels.
Variety show
The cabaret (renamed "variety show" in 1992) was 90-120 minute show featuring celebrity guests performing a variety of acts. A separate admission fee was charged for this event.
Dealers' room
Video rooms
Video rooms (one in 1990, two thereafter) ran television shows and movies, concentrating on programs that attending celebrities appeared in. A third room featuring fan-made videos was added in 1996.
Autographs and photographs
Each fan was given the opportunity to meet the celebrities and receive and autograph and a photograph.
Costume contest/masquerade ball
Art show
Auction
Each year fans participated in an auction of science fiction memorabilia. Proceeds went to
Lambs Farm and theMake-a-Wish Foundation .Gaming
Publications
Program book
A program book was given to each attending fan. The book included biographies of the guests, a map of the hotel, a schedule of the weekend's events and general convention rules.
Newsletter
"ReVisions" was published 4-6 times a year and contained news about the past and/or upcoming convention.
Rookie guide
"The Visions Rookie Guide" was written for first-time attendees of "Visions". ["The Visions Rookie Guide", 1994.]
Websites
The original website was at http://www.xnet.com/~tardis. A second,
http://hme-visions.com [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://hme-visions.com] , was added in northern autumn 1998.Merchandise
T-shirts
T-shirts featuring that year's logo were available for purchase by mail or at the convention.
Videos
Video tapes of selected panels and variety shows were available for purchase by mail.
pecial events
- Attendees of "Visions '92" were given the chance to help in the development of the Doctor Who pinball machine. At least one machine was available for play during the convention. ["Visions '92" program booklet. Both Wikipedia and the [http://www.ipdb.org/ Internet Pinball Database] state the machine was released in September 1992, two months before the convention, so it is unclear what effect fans had in the development.]
- To celebrate the 30th anniversary of
Doctor Who the BBC broadcast a specially-made episode calledDimensions in Time . ProducerJohn Nathan-Turner brought a copy to "Visions '93" and showed it Friday and Saturday nights. As the episode was made in 3-D, special glasses were sold for the viewings with the proceeds going toChildren in Need . [Citation | journal = Dreamwatch Bulletin | issue = 122 | pages = p. 4 | date = January 1994 ] - The 1996 convention saw the premiere performance of
Mysterious Theatre 337 (MT337). An homage toMystery Science Theater 3000 , MT337 performed toDoctor Who episodes instead ofB movies . Additional performances occurred in 1997 and 1998 and continue atChicago TARDIS and Gallifrey. [cite web| url = http://shillpages.com/mt337/mteg.shtml| title = A brief list of all of our performances| accessdate = 2007-06-13| work = shillpages.com]
Other conventions
"Visions" followed earlier conventions held in the Chicago area around Thanksgiving. "Brit TV" was held in 1988 (in
Lincolnwood, Illinois ) and 1989 (in Rosemont, Illinois) Fact|date=June 2007.Spirit of Light Enterprises ran Doctor Who conventions in the mid-80s. [Citation | title = Watch the Skies: Lost in the Void Since 1989, Doctor Who Makes a Brief Return | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | pages = Arts & Entertainment section, p. 10 | date =May 12 ,1996 ] Following the demise of "Visions"Chicago TARDIS took over the Thanksgiving slot beginning in 2000.Fact|date=June 2007Notes and references
External links
* [http://shillpages.com/mt337/index.shtml] Mysterious Theatre 337
* [http://chicagotardis.com/] Chicago TARDIS
* [http://gallifreyone.com/gallifrey.php] Gallifrey (convention)
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